Site Near Roswell Studied For Nuclear Waste Reprocessing

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) – Roswell Mayor Sam LaGrone says relying on foreign oil is dangerous, and the nation needs nuclear power. He was among the speakers last night at a US Department of Energy hearing on the possibility of a nuclear waste reprocessing center near Roswell.

A site near Hobbs also is being studied for the integrated spent fuel recycling facility. That’s part of President Bush’s proposed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, or GNEP, which seeks to reduce US dependence on imported oil.

Some speakers at Roswell’s hearing said people should get informed and not prematurely judge the project.

Others expressed skepticism about the project’s safety, and questioned how long it would store highly radioactive spent fuel rods.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-28-07 1724EST